Revetment and method and apparatus for forming the same



M M. UPSON May 11, 1934.

REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 1929ll Sheets-Sheet l lllllllhJll lllllllll lln lllllllllllil IllllllllllllII] III lllllllllllll lllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Illllllllllllllllllllllll 1N VENTOR A TTORNE Y5 M. M.UPSON May 1 19340 REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THESAME Filed Abril 16, 1929 11 Shets-Sheet 2 gnvemtoz May 1, 1934. M MUPSON 1,956,967

REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME FIG.4.

5 3 awwentoz May 1, 1934.

, M. M. UPSON -REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAMEFiled April 16, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1934 M. M. UPSON 1,956,967

REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 16,1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Ma 1, 1934'. M. psoN 1,956,967

REVE TMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 16.1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 H] [H l].

awumtoz May 1, 1934.,

M.v M. UPSON QREVETMENT AND METHOD AND APiARATUS FOR FORMING THEQSAMEFiled April 16. 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 May 11, 1934; M: pso 1,956,967

REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME May 1, 1934.M."M.uPsoN 1,956,967

REVETMENT AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 15,1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o Qvwantoi A2 Gum y Patented May 1, 1934 REVETMENTAND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME Maxwell M. Upson,Englewood, N. J.,

Raymond Concrete Pile Company, New N. Y., a corporation of New Jerseyassignor to York,

Application April 16, 1929, Serial No. 355,483

29 Claims.

This invention pertains to method and apparatus for the formation ofrevetments of the type now being used in the control of the MississippiRiver.

Such revetments are composed of small concrete slabs tied together bywires or cables to form large articulated concrete mats with which theriver bank is paved to a point well out in the stream. This inventioncovers an improved method and apparatus for making the 'mats and forputting them in position.

In present practice the mat is made up of concrete slabs three inchesthick, eleven and one-half inches wide, and three feet eleven incheslong, reinforced and interconnected by wire laid twelve by twelve inchmesh. Allowing for clearance between the slabs, each slab occupies aspace of about one foot by four feet and contains approximately onecubic foot of concrete.

Mats are cast on barges, one mat being formed on top of another afterseveral hours curing, one or two sheets of paper being laid over thegreen mat to prevent sticking. Twenty-five slabs are cast in each matunit. The mats are stacked fourteen to twenty-one layers high. Inoperation six or more barges are moored end to end near a gravel bar,and a floating mixing plant travels up and down the line of barges,filling the mat forms in succession.

Each barge holds from 250 to 300 units of twenty-five slabs each. Ittakes about a week to fill a barge and another week before the greenest(uppermost)) slabs can be removed. By the time the barge has beenemptied and returned to the gravel bed for refilling another week ormore has been consumed. Therefore each barge requires at least threeweeks for a round trip, which means that an enormous number of barges isrequired in order to keep a laying crew busy.

The previous type of laying plant includes a mat boat to whichthe'articulated units are transferred from the barges. On the mat boatthe units are assembled by cranes so that a section of articulated mat140 feet by 25 feet may be laid. Such a mat section consists of 35 matunits each clipped to mat cables and to each other by Crosby clips. Themat cables run across the mat boat four feet apart, .their shore endsbeing anchored on the river bank. Reinforcing wires projecting from theends of the slabs are attached to the cables by clips at intervals ofabout five feet, the remaining reinforcing wires being attached to eachother and to the cables by twistedwire ties. Thus there is formed a mat'section 1 .0 by 25 feet fastened together at inte'rvals of one foot inall directions. This section is launched on skids from the mat boatuntil the lower edge is in the water or on shore. Another mat section isthen assembled on the boat, attached to the retained end of thepreceding section and the launching process'continued.

Mat sections are formed and launched as above until a mat extending 140feet along the shore and 200 to 300 feet (usually) out into the streamis formed. Then the mat boat is moved 132 55 feet up stream and anothersimilar mat is laid which overlaps the edge of the first mat eight feet.

It will be readily appreciated that the above process is veryinefficient and expensive. investment in barges, tugs, and otherequipment is enormous, as is also the expense of operation and unkeep.The manufacture of each mat is a piecemeal performance involving greatexpense for handling the mat units, and mat sections, and attaching themtogether.

The object of the present invention is to disclose an apparatus andmethod for forming and laying the mats in a more efficient manner and atgreatly reduced cost.

To these and other ends the invention comprises the novel features andcombinations of elements described and shown in the drawings, which byway of illustration show what is now considered to be a preferred formof the invention.

Fig. l is a plan view of the apparatus in position to manufacture andlay a mat.

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of eight slabs showing interconnection andmethod of reinforcement.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, showing more ofthe details? Fig. 5 is an enlarged view on the line 55 of Fi 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, partly brokenaway to show details of the apparatus. g

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, partly broken awayto show details of the apparatus.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, partly broken awayto show details of the apparatus. L

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view on the line 9 -9 of Fig. 1, partly brokenaway to show details of'the apparatus.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing details of slab molds andmethod of supporting them.

The '0 Fig. 11 is a view of Fig. 10 taken from the bottom of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side view of three molds showing method of interconnectionand support.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sprocket shown in Fig. 8with around it.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the power plant corner of the apparatus,partly broken away to show details of the drive.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing detailsof the tension devices.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan of Fig. 15 in reduced scale.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged cross-section of buckets on the line 1717 ofFig.,10.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view, of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view on the line 19-19 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail showing supplethe molds passing on theline 1818 mental support for mold while passing over dischargesprockets.

On account of the great size of some parts of thejapparatus and therestrictions imposed by the size of Patent Office drawing paper it hasbeen necessary to take unusual liberties with dimensions in thedrawings. The design and operation of the mechanism will, however, beread ily understood by those skilled in the art.

My method and apparatus cover the manufacture and laying of a completemat in a 24-hour cycle. The general scheme maybe readily understood fromFigs. 1, 2 and 4 in which 20 repre-.

sents a trussed girder which supports an endless belt of slab molds 22.The girder is of sufiicient length and width to accommodate on it upperside enough molds to form a complete mat, which under the particularconditions discussed herein is 140 feet wide and 250 feet long. As eachmold occupies a space one foot by four feet there are thirty-five moldscrosswise, and 250 molds length-. wise of the girder, of the girder atall times. All molds being empty, they are all rapidly filled by the aidof one or more gantry cranes 24. The slabs are then allowed to set overnight, and, since quick strength cement is used, the mat is ready to laythe next morning. The laying is accomplished by actuating sprockets 26whereby the mat, its slabs being interconnected by the reinforcingwires, is dis: charged over the right hand end of the girder (Figs. 2and 4). The shore end of the mat is at-. tached at the top of the bankto anchors 28 and then the girder, supported by barges 30, is movedslowly away from the'bank, guided from anchored barges 32, and the matis laid on the sloping bank 34 as indicated in Fig. 2. After the moldspass over sprockets 26 they pass back underneath the girder, to finallyreach the top of the girder again by passing over sprockets 36 at theother end of the girder. As the molds change direction to pass backunder the girder each mold frees itself from the slab which was cast init, and the finished mat 40 passes downwardly to rest on the bank.

After the laying of a mat is finished a new matis poured in the emptymolds then on top 01' the girder and, after setting over night, is laid132 feet up stream, sons to provide an eightfoot overlap on thepreviously laid mat.

Now that the principle of operation has been briefly described, thedetails of the apparatus and method will be explained.

In Fig. 3 is shown a fragment of the mat, each or at least 8750 molds ontop,

slab being designated 42, the cross wires 44, and the longitudinal wires46. Each slab is tapered inwardly from top to bottom on edges and endsin order that it will draw easily from its mold.

Referring'now to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, the construction andarrangement of the molds will be understood. The top of girder 20comprises parallel longitudinal beams 48. Each mold 50 is a shallow panprovided with outwardly projecting flanges around its top, and with opentopped slots or notches in its ends and sides to accommodate the wires.The slots for longitudinal wires are designated 52, and those for thecross wires 54. The flange 56 at each end of the to slightly overlap theunflanged side of the adjoining mold.

Surrounding each slot 52 on one side of the mold is a flange 55 whichprojects into a corresponding flange 57 of the next adjoining mold,

thereby preventing material from falling between the molds at the slots.Underneath the middle flange 55 of each mold is a downwardly projectingblock 59 for a purpose which will later appear. Each mold 50 issupported in and by a shallow cradle 60, to which it is fastened bybolts 62. This arrangement permits almost instant replacement of anymold. Each cradle is carried by four pairs of rollers which run on thelongitudinal beams 48. The end rollers 64 are flanged while the others66 are plain. End rollers 64 are attached to cradle 60 through theinstrumentality of a fitting 68 which extends upwardly around the end ofabout half way up the mold. J Passing rather loosely through holes ineach fitting 68 are a pair of horizontal pins 70 which entercorresponding holes in the fitting 68 on the next adjacent mold. On eachpin 70 is a roller 72 which serves as a contact member to engage theteeth of sprockets '26 while passing therearound. On each side of eachroller 72 is a link 74, each pair of links being connected to acorresponding pair on the nextadjoining mold by a toggle pin 76. Whensprocket 26 are rotated, the molds are drawn along beams 48 by tensiontransmitted through links 74, which therefore tend to straighten thetoggleformed by the links between each pair of buckets. However, thetoggles are prevented from straightening by screws 77 through ears 78integral with fittings 68. Screws 77 contact with the top sides of links74 as shown in Fig. 12. This arrangement is provided so that the togglesmay .break sufiiciently (Figs. 8 and each mold to a point girder issupported on a large pillar 80 at each corner and on a series of smallpillars 82 along each side. The pillars rest on a substantial base 84,which in turn rests on a plurality of barges 30. The top of base 84 isprovided with steel rails 85 upon which the molds rest, bottom side up,while returning empty to the left hand end of the machine, as in Figs. 8and 9.

On the discharge end of the girder (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) are mounted aseries of brackets 86 which carry bearings 88' in which rotate shafts 90to which are fast drive sprockets 26. A similar series they aredischarging the vmat.

of brackets 86 at the other end of the machine (Fig. 9) carry take-upboxes 92 in which rotate the tail shafts 94 upon which are mountedsprockets 36.

The method of supplying power to sprockets 26 will be understood byreference to Figs. 6, 8 and 14. Upon base 84 is mounted a power plantcomprising a steam engine 98 and boiler 100, sheltered by a house 102.The engine drives by chain 104 a shaft 106 carried in suitable bearingsand extending across the width of girder 20. Shaft 90 is not continuousbut is in short lengths, each extending from one bearing 88 to the next,and each carrying three sprockets 26. Shafts 90 abut in bearings 86 asshown in Fig. 14. Each shaft 90 is provided with a drive sprocket 108,driven by a sprocket 110 through chain 112. A manually adjustable chaintightener 114 bears against the slack side of the chain. Each sprocket110 is fast on one end of a short countershaft 116, on the other end ofwhich is a worm wheel 118 driven by a worm 120 on a short shaft 122running lengthwise of the girder and provided at its other end with aworm wheel 124 which is driven by a worm 126 on shaft 106. By thismethod sufiicient speed reduction is obtained to drive the molds at theexceedingly slow speed required while Tail shafts 94 are in, shortlengths corresponding to the shafts 90.

The method and apparatus for filling the molds will be understood fromFigs. 1 and 5. 130 represents a barge on which is carried the concretemixing plant, arranged to receive cement in sacks from barge 132, gravelfrom barge 134, and sand from barge 136. The cement is lifted by crane138 to platform 140 fromwhich it is moved by conveyors 142 and 144 toplatform 146, from which it is dumped through hopper 148 into mixer 150.Sand and gravel are lifted from their barges by crane 152 and bucket 154into overhead bins 156, from which measured quantities are droppedthrough hopper 148 into the mixer. From the mixer the mixed concrete iselevated by elevator 158 through hopper 160 into bottom discharge bucket162, adapted to travel along the gantry crane 24 so as to discharge itscontents at any desired point in the width of the mat. The concrete sodischarged is leveled into the molds with hoes and rakes, the flangedtops of the molds presenting level surfaces to guide the leveling andsmoothing tools. Of course before pouring the concrete the reinforcingwires 44 and 46 are placed in position, the lengthwise wires 46 havingbeen drawn into position from friction-retarded reels 164 over sheaves165, while the preceding mat was being laid. There is one reel 164 foreach wire 46, the reels being mounted on base 84, with sheaves 165 abovethem as shown in Fig. 15. Suitable tension is applied to each wife byhand wheel 167 through the instrumentality of brake 169. Crane 24travels the entire length of the mat on tracks 166 supported onextensions of pillars and 82. Only one crane and one mixing plant areillustrated, but two or more cranes and mixers may be used if desired.The mixing plant is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the mat by cablesshown diagrammatically at 1'70 (Fig. 5) and the crane is adapted to bemoved by well known power devices which are not shown for lack of space.

After the mat has been poured and allowed to set over night it is laidas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The mat manufacturing plant is adapted to bemoved at right angles to the bank by cable discharge the mat.

the mat which has been laid.

'few slabs 42 of the mat.

224 and chain 230, turns engine 228 backwards 14 passing over thedischarge sprockets, means is mediately underneath eac hccable.

ar uate track or rail 2'70,

174 attached to anchor 176 out in the stream, and cable 1'78 attached toshore anchor 180. The cables are wound on and off drums 182 by means ofengine 184', steam being supplied by boiler 186. This arrangementpermits movement of the mat plant at right angles to the shore line.

The plant is located and held in proper upand-down stream position bycables 188 extending upstream to a drum 189 on carriage 190, adapted totravel longitudinally of barges 32, which are held in position andalignment by cables 192 anchored on shore and passing around. suitablehoisting drums 194 driven by engines 196 and boilers 198. Carriage 190is movable along barges 32 by engine 200 which drives gears 202 engaginga toothed rack 204 extending lengthwise of the barges. Carriage 190travels on rails 206, and the horizontal pull of cables 188 is takenthrough wheels 208 in contact with a rail 210 adjacent rack 204.

'At the beginning of the laying operation the mat boat is movedin-shoreas close as possible, wires 46 are connected to shore anchors 28, engine98 is started, and sprockets 26 are rotated to At the same time the moldboat is backed away from the shore with the result that the mat 40 islaid on the sloping bank as indicated in Fig. 2. When the mat is finallylaid a new set of wires 46 has been drawn into place in the set of emptymoldsthen covering the top of girder 20. These wires are then secured inplace and the protruding ends are cut in order to separate them from therear end of It has been found advisable to provide supplemental means inaddition" to wire 46 to support the weight of the mat while it ishanging over the discharge'edge during the final stages of the layingoperation. This supplemental means is shown in Figs. 15 and 16,'andcomprises cables 220, the ends of which are imbedded in the last Thefree end of a cable 220 is placed alongside wire 46, in the middle slots52 of thelast few molds comprising the 2 mat,--therefore when the moldsare filled and the concrete is set, there will be a cable, preferablyone-half inch, anchored in the middle of all the rearmost slabs 42.

From the slabs each cable 220 extends over an equalizer sheave 222around friction sheaves 224, to a drum 226. A steam engine 228 is beltedby chain 230 to a sprocket 232 on shaft 234 which carries the lowerfriction sheaves 224.

Each equalizer sheave 222 is carried by the free end of a piston rod 236fast to a piston in a cylinder 238. All the cylinders 238 are connectedat their lower ends to a hydraulic main 240 and therefore sheaves 222will adjust themselves to maintain equal tensions in all cables 220.

While the mat is being lowered during the final stages of the launchingoperation, steam is turned off from engine98 and on to engine 228. Theweight of the mat, through cables 220, sheaves against the steampressure, and thus provides a convenient means for controlling the speedof launching because the steam may be regulated by throttle 242.

In order to prevent cables 220 from bending or otherwise damaging themolds while they are the mold at a point inrprovided for supporting Thissupporting means comprises an upon which supporting block 59 is arrangedto slide as shown in Fig. 20. The outer end of track 270 is supported bya brace 272 extending to the base of the main truss.

When the mat is launched, cables 220 are out, and the unused portionsdrawn back by means of engine 228. I v

Near the end of the laying operation the weight of the mat becomesconcentrated on the barges 30 at the discharge end of the plant and thefollowing precautions are taken to keep the outfit level. Each barge 30is normally about half full of water. As the weight shifts, water ispumped from the barges most heavily loaded into those more lightlyloaded, or into the river, the pumping being done by steam pump 244 inpower house 102. Each barge 30 is provided with a suction hose 246connected through suitable valves to the suction end of the-pump, andwith a discharge hose 248 connected to the discharge end of the pump. Abranch suction hose 250 dips into the river.

After the mat has been laid as above described, new longitudinal wires46 are already in place. Cables 220 and cross wires 44 are put inposition and a new mat is poured. If desired, the new mat may be pouredwhile its predecessor is being laid.

As the empty molds approach sprockets 36 on their return journey theyare inspected andanydamaged molds are replaced by loosening bolts 62.

To-expedite the setting of the concrete in the molds it is sometimesdesirable to apply heatby means of steam coils 260 supported on girder20 underneath the molds (Figs. 4, 8 and 9).

While the new mat is being prepared, winches 189 on barges 32 areoperated-to wind up cables 188 to move the entire plant 132 feet upstream in position to lay the next mat with an eight-foot lap over theprevious mat. Buildings 212 on the extended base 84 serve as bunkhouses, machine shops, store rooms, etc.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theconstruction and operation herein specifically set forth, but may beused in other forms without departure from the spirit of the inventionas defined by the claims which follow.

Iv claim 1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, asupport and a plurality of connected slab molds carried thereon, saidmolds being adapted to accommodate cross wires therethrough, means forsupporting wires in said molds, means for filling said molds withplastic concrete whereby an articulated-mat of slabs interconnected bywiresis formed, and means car- 'ried by said support fordischarging saidmat from said molds downwardly over a side of said support, forthepurpose set'forth.

2. In apparatus ofthe class described, in combination, a plurality ofslab molds, means for interconnecting said molds to form an endlesschain thereof, means for supporting said chain whereby the same willpass over and under said support, means for supporting wires'in saidmolds whereby when the molds are filled with concrete an articulated mator slab will be formed, means for moving said chain of molds about saidsupport, and means for producing relative separation of the wires andmolds to cause removal of the slabs from the molds at one point in themovement of the chain.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofslab molds, means for interconnecting said molds to form a plurality ofendless chains thereof, means for supporting said chains whereby saidchains pass over and under said support, devices for interconnectingsaid chains, crosswire of said support, and power means engaging saidinterconnecting devices for moving said chains simultaneously lengthwiseof said support. g

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which means is provided foradjusting the widths of the spaces between said molds, lengthwise of thechain.

5. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which said molds areinterconnected lengthwise of the chain by toggle links, with devices foradjusting the angle between said toggle links whereby the distancebetween said molds may be adjusted.

6. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which said interconnectingmeans are arranged to automatically change length when the chain ofmolds changes direction in passing about said support. I

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofslab molds adapted to accommodate cross wires therethrough, means forfilling said molds with plastic concrete whereby an articulated mat ofslabs interconnected by wires is formed, a'support for said molds, meansfor moving said molds, and means for changing the direction of saidmotion whereby the slabs and wires comprising the articulated mat moverelatively to the molds and are automatically removed from said molds.

8. The invention .set forth in claim '7 in which the molds are flaredoutwardly toward their tops, and in which the wires pass throughoutwardly flaring notches in the sides of said molds, whereby theremoval of slabs and wires is facilitated when the direction of motionof the molds is changed.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a support, means for forming onsaid support a plurality 'of rows of concrete slabs interconnected toform an articulated mat, means for moving said mat lengthwise of saidrows in order to discharge the mat over the end of said support,;andmeans comprising a cable imbedded in a plurality of slabs of each rowfor supporting the weight of that row of slabs after the slabs aredischarged over the end of said support.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9 in which means is provided forequalizing the strain between the cables of the various rows of slabs.

11. The invention set forth in claim 9 in which means is provided forequalizing the strain between the cables of the various rows of slabs,said equalizing means comprising a plurality of interconnected hydrauliccylinders eaoh adapted to maintain a sheave in contact with one of saidcables.

12. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprises placingcontinuous reinforcing wires through a plurality of interconnected slabmolds, filling the molds with plastic concrete, allowing the concrete toset, holding one end of the reinforcing wires, and moving the molds todischarge the slabs therefrom and lay mat over the edge of said supportto lay the same and simultaneously moving a plurality of empty Y moldsonto said support.

14. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprises placinga plurality of slab molds on a support, laying continuous reinforcingwires through said molds, filling said molds with plastic concrete,permitting said concrete to set, holding one end of said wires, thenmoving said molds to discharge said slabs, interconnected.

by said wires, over the end of said support to lay the same andsimultaneously moving a plurality of empty molds onto said support.

15. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprises placingcontinuous wires through a plurality of molds mounted on a support,filling the molds with plastic concrete surrounding said wires, allowingsaidconcrete to set, whereby an articulated reinforced concrete mat isformed, holding one end of said wires, moving said molds to dischargesaid mat over the edge of the support to lay the same and simultaneouslymoving a plurality of empty molds with wires therethrough onto saidsupport.

16. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprises movingonto a support a plurality of rows of empty molds with continuous wirestherethrough lengthwise of said molds, placing continuous wires throughsaid molds crosswise of the rows, filling the molds with plasticconcrete, allowing said concrete to set, whereby an articulatedreinforced concrete mat is formed, holding one end of the lengthwisewires moving said molds to discharge said mat over the edge of thesupport and lay the same and simultaneously moving a plurality of emptymolds with wires therethrough onto said support.

17. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofslab molds adapted to accommodate cross wires therethrough, means forfilling said molds with plastic concrete whereby an articulated mat ofslabs interconnected by wires is formed, a support for said molds,

means for discharging said mat over the side of said support, and meansfor preventing the wires 'from damaging said molds while being sodischarged which comprises a compression member interposed between thewire and said support.

18. The invention set forth in claim 17 in which said last mentionedmeans comprises a block attached to said mold and adapted to supportsaid wires during the discharging operation, substantially as described.

19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a support for aplurality of slab molds, means for interconnecting said molds side byside on said support, means integral with said molds and effective whenthe molds are interconnected for providing a substantially continuoustrough between said molds, and adapted to accommodate reinforcing wirespassing through said molds.

20. The invention set forth in claim 19 in which said molds are providedwith trough-like projections which overlap each other to form saidcontinuous troughs, substantially as described.

21. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprises forminga plurality of slabs in molds mounted on a support and connecting saidslabs to form a reticulated mat, moving said molds over the edge of thesupport and causing relative movement between the same and theconnecting means to discharge said slabs over the edge of the supportand simultaneously moving the support to spread the mat.

22. The method of forming and laying revetments which comprisesforming'a plurality of slabs in molds mounted on a support 2.11110011-necting saidslabs to form a reticulated mat, moving said molds over theedge of the support and causing relative movement between the same andthe connecting means to discharge said slabs over the edge of thesupport, simultaneously moving the support to spread the mat, andsimultaneously moving a plurality of empty molds onto said support.

23. In a revetment forming and laying apparatus, the combination with asupport, a continuous chain of molds mounted on said support, means forsupporting reinforcing and connecting elements in said molds, means forfilling said molds with plastic concrete, embedding said reinforcingelements, means for moving said mold chain, and means for causingrelative separation of the reinforcing and connecting elements and saidmolds to cause discharge of the contents of the mold seriatim.

24. In apparatus for forming and laying revetments, a support, acontinuous chain of slab molds movable over said support, means formoving the molds, means for supporting reinforcing elements movable withsaid chain, means for filling the molds on said support to' embed thereinforcing elements and form reinforced slabs, means forcausingrelative movement between the reinforcing elements and the molds toproduce separation of the slabs from the molds seriatim and lay thereticulated mat thus formed, and means for simultaneously returning theempty molds to said support and inserting new reinforcing elements inthe molds.

' 25. Apparatus for forming and laying revetments comprising a support,a continuous mold chain movable over said support, reinforcing elementssupported in said mold and having one end connected to a stationarypart,means for filling said molds with plastic concrete to embed thereinforcing elements, means for moving said support away from saidstationary part and thus causing relative movement between the molds andthe reinforcing elementslwhich separates the slabs formed in the moldsfrom the molds, and means for returning the empty molds to said support,and simultaneously inserting additional reinforcing elements in saidmolds.

26. In apparatus for forming revetments on river banks, in combination,means for forming a reticulated concrete mat, a plurality of movablesupports for said mat, means for discharging the mat over the edge ofone of said supports, and means for maintaining the relative heights ofsaid supports constant while said mat is being discharged.

2 7. In apparatus of the class .described, in combination, a support anda plurality of slab molds supported thereby, means for supportinginterconnecting instrumentalities in said molds whereby when said moldsare filled with concrete an articulated mat is formed of slabsinterconnected by said instrumentalities, means for moving said molds onsaid support, and means for producing relative separation of saidinstrumentalities and molds to cause removal of the slabs from themolds.

28. In a molding device of the class described, a support and aplurality of slab molds supported thereby, means for supportinginterconnecting instrumentalities in said molds whereby when said moldsare filled with concrete an articulr ted mat is formed of slabsinterconnected by said insaid molds are filled with concrete anarticulated mat is formed of slabs interconnected by saidinstrumentalities, in combination with means for anchoring one end ofsaid instrumentalities exteriorly of said molding device, ,and means formoving said molds relative to said support and relative to saidinstrumentalities to produce separation of said instrumentalities andmolds whereby said interconnected slabs are discharged in seriesdownwardly over a side of said support.

MAXWELL M. UPSON.

